Switch-throwing device.



B. BLOXTON. SWITCH THROWING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 15. im.

Patented Aug. 28, 1917.

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BENJAMIN BLOXTON, OF RICI-IMGND, VIRGINIA.

SWITCH-THBOWING DEVICE.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1917.

Original application filed July 10, 1913, Serial No. 778,272. Dividedand this application filed January 15,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN BLOXTON, citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switch-ThrowingDevices; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to switch throwing devices for railway rollingstock and has particular reference to the track and switch mechanism tobe employed in connection with switch throwing devices such as is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 778,272, filed July 10,1913, leading to the U. S. Patent No. 116847 2, dated January 18, 1916,of which this is a divisional application.

The invention has for its object to provide improved switch throwingmechanism so arranged and constructed that the obstacles to be engagedby the switch throwing mechanism on the rolling stock can be properlypositioned for most effective coaction with the obstacle engaging ortripping devices on the rolling stock and which provide for the mosteffective and efficient throwing of the switch by a -car moving on thetrack in either direction so that a switch may be opened or closed atthe will of the motorman or other driver without recourse to the usualmanual operation for the opening or closing of the switch.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of theswitch throwing mechanism and particularly in the instrumcntalities forproperly and efficiently positioning the rocking members with relationto their engaging or tripping members on the rolling stock.

The invention further consists in certain other novel details ofconstruction and in certain combinations of parts, all of which will befirst fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in theappended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a railroad Serial No. 72,219.

track illustrating a switch in closed posi tion and the throwingmechanism con-.-.

structed and arranged in accordance with this invention and Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the same.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the twofigures in which:

1 and 2 indicate the rails of the track and 3 indicates the switchpivoted at 4 in the usual manner.

5 indicates a bed plate positioned as shown to which is pivoted at 6 twobell cranks 7 on either side of the rail 2 and switch member 3, each ofbell cranks 7 being connected by a link 8 to the switch member 3 so thatpivotal movement of either of said bell cranks 7 will open or close theswitch member 3.

Pivoted to each of the bell cranks 7 is a yoke 9, each having threadedconnections with a reach rod 10, each reach rod 10 being in turn pivotedto a threaded element 11 mounted on the rocking levers 12, which rockinglevers 12 are pivoted at 13 as for instance to the rail 2 so that saidrocking levers 12 are disposed on either side of the rail 2 in themanner as shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described the several parts of the invention, its operationis as follows:

The pivoted rocking levers 12 being positioned as shown provideobstacles adjacent and on both sides of the rail 2 to be engaged androcked by an element on the rolling stock so that either one of saidrocking levers 12 may be rocked on its pivot 13 to move its reach rod 10and its connected bellcrank 7 to throw to switch member 3 from a closedposition to an open position or from an open position to a closedposition as occasion may require.

For the most effective and efficient operation of the device it isproper that the rock ing levers 12 be so positioned with relation totheir engaging members on the rolling stock that a proper and effectiveengagement will be assured and that a proper extent of movement will beimparted to the switch member 3 so that both a proper and a full openingand closing of the switch will be assured. In order therefore toproperly position the rocking levers 12, the reach rods 10 are threadedin or out of the yokes 9 to lengthen or shorten the same which controlthe angularity of the pivoted rocking levers 12 so as to provide themost effective engagement with the engaging elements on the rollingstock.

In order to insure a proper and .i'ull move ment of the switch member 3into full open and full closed position, the threaded member 11 which isin connection with each of the reach rods 10 is threaded upwardly ordownwardly on its rocking lever 12 in the direction of or away from thepivotal point 13 of the rocking levers so as to increase or diminish thelength of the lower arm of each rocking lever which effective arm is thedistance between its pivotal point or fulcrum and the point ofengagement between the reach rod 10 and the threaded ,member 11. Bymeans of this con struction the throw of each of the rocking members 12can be so regulated as to insure a proper and full movement of theswitch member 3 into full open or full closed position, while at thesame time any wear or play in the several parts can be readily taken upand compensated for.

Having thus fully described the invention what I claimas new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In railway appliances of the type de scribed, the combination with aswitch rail of a pair of bell cranks pivoted on each side of the switchrail, a pair of reach rods having ,pivotal engagement with said bellcranks, a pivoted switch throwing rocking lever connected to each reachrod on each side of a rail of a track to provide obstacles to be engagedby a mechanism on a car, a threaded element for threaded engagement witheach of said switch throwing rocking levers to which threaded elementsthe said reach rods are connected, each of said threaded elements beingmovable in the direction of and away from the pivotal points of the saidrocking levers to increase or diminish the length of one effective armof each of said rocking levers substantially as described.

2. In railway appliances of the type described, the combination with aswitch rail of a pair of reach rods, intermediate connections betweenthe reach rods and switch rail, a pivoted switch throwing rocking leverconnected to each reach rod to provide an obstacleadjacent to the railof a track to be engaged by mechanism on a car, the connection betweeneach reach rod and switch throwing rocking lever including an elementmovable on each rocking lever in the direction of or away fromthepivotal point of each rocking lever to increase or diminish thelength of one effective arm of each rocking lever substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of vtwowitnesses.

BENJAMIN BLOXTON.

Witnesses:

RYLAND H. SoHoMBURG, Lnwrs B. SoHoMBURe.

Copiesofjhispatent may be obtainedipr five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents.

' W ashingtomlp. O.

